# Accident 20030703033399A: Cessna 421C, Sitka, AK, July 3, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 3, 2003, 17:00 local time
- Place: Sitka, AK
- Airport: Sitka
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Initial Approach-IFR
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 57.0978° N, 135.3689° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.0978&lon=-135.3689&mi=10
- Aircraft: N777DX, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777DX-2018-01-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 421C (registry code 2076016, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GTSI0-520-F-K (registry code 17031, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Reported engine: CONT GTSIO520*
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Pilot flight hours: 9,200 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC03FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03FA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030703033399A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AIRCRAFT CRASHED 2.5 MILES N NW OF SITKA AIRPORT WHILE ON IFR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 11 ON 7-3-03 APPROX AT 5PM. AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS SEVERELY BURNED, PROP/ENGINE APPEARED TO BE TURNING WITH POWER, IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION NOT EVIDENT. APPROXIMATE HEADING OF AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE TREES WAS 158 DEGREES. 5 SOULS ALL FATAL. THREE OF THE PERSONS ONBOARD WERE CERTIFICATED PILOTS. FLIGHT WAS A CORPORATE/PRIVATE ENROUTE FROM COLORADO TO ANCHORAGE WITH A FUEL STOP IN PRINCE RUPERT, BC. REASON TO LAND SIT WAS DUE TO WARNING LIGHT FOR A DOOR ACCORDING TO REPORTS. LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION TO SIT FSS WAS APPROX 4:50PM ON 7-3-03. (-23 AMENDMENT) REVIEWED ATC RADAR TRACK AND ATC TAPES. ATC CLEARANCE N777DX DIRECT TO TIPEH (FAF) AND TO MAINTAIN 7000 FEET UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON A PUBLISHED PORTION OF THE APPROACH. READ BACK WAS CORRECT FROM PILOT. AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AFTER THAT TRANSMISSION AND CROSSED AND PASSED TIPEH WELL BELOW 7000 FEET AND SUBSEQUENT CRASH INTO TERRAIN. AIRCRAFT DID NOT TURN OUTBOUND ON PUBLISHED APPROACH BUT MADE A TURN BACK TO AIRPORT AFTER PASSING TIPEH.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC03FA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03FA066), Jul 4, 2003: Cessna 421C (N777DX), Sitka, AK, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to follow IFR procedures by not following the published approach procedures, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were a low…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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